treeMOTION

outonalimbtrees

outonalimbtrees

Location
Huntsville, Ontario, Canada
I was leafing through the treeMOTION's manual the other day and couldn't help but notice the listed "lifespan". Three months with excessive use, 12 months with normal use, and five years if used one week a year...does anyone know what all that means? Is this just a warranty issue, or is it really necessary to throw out the harness after 6 months. I climb at least 5-6 days a week, for work and play, and with a 631 dollar price tag canadian, I'm a little disapointed in this so called "lifespan". Maybe someone out there can explain it to me? Thanks!
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I can't believe this topic hasn't already come up in discussion.

Outstanding first post!
 
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Maybe someone out there can explain it to me? Thanks!
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shhhhhhh!

Dont let the 'cat out of the bag' !

If this gets out that tree gear and hardware actually lasts a long time then all those vendors will be out of a job!

I remember when the 'in' thing was red CMI micro pulleys. Then came the <font color="yellow">GOLD </font> series of pulleys.

As you can plainly see, gold is MUCH better than red, so hurry on down and get your latest and greatest up-to-the-minute tree gear (and don't forget to bring your wallet)


No seriously, it is a complaint of mine that many of the new hybrid saddles are really just not that durable. Compared to a Brydan, New Tribe, Weaver, TreeAustria, etc. these new saddles just cannot compare or even come close to being as durable. Folks measure the life span of these saddles in YEARS not months or days.

The saddles I named all are extremely long lived and dollar for dollar give an incredible value for your hard earned money.

I have talked to old retired Linemen who still have their old saddle hanging in the garage. Serviceable, uncomfortable, but after 20 some years of hard day in and day out work, still 'safe' AND they got the saddle as a hand me down!!!

At least the TreeMotion folks are being honest about it. That goes a long long way for me...
 
i could understand if the saddle was done after two years of continuous usage, but lets be honest here....3 FREAKIN MONTHS! At over six hundred bucks for one of those, I'm a little freaked out that they couldn't make it a little more durable. But I still might get one...hahahahahahah!
 
I always thought it was a fragile looking thing. Everything needs to be double thicked-up, heavier duty. Frig the extra weight, for that price it outta last years. THEN it might be worth the price.
 
The TM is plenty durable IMO.

The manual does state-

At infrequent use ( one week per year) life span can be up to 5 years.
Under intensive use the lifespan can be reduced to 3 months.
And normal use to one year.

It also says- It is not possible to make a generic statement about the lifespan of the item of equipment, as it is influenced by various factors, such as (list incomplete) UV- radiation, type and frequency of use, treatment, influence by weather such as snow, enviroments such as salt, sand, battery acid.

cya statement thats all.

Cycles to failure! The harder you ride it the shorter the ride. Plain and simple.


Ive had mine a bit over a year now, and its in great condition. I fully expect another 4 or even 5 out of it, unless I trade up. Which is very possible.
 
MB- its not near as fragile as it may appear. Its actually made of very strong and durable material.

It was a bit over priced, but hey, name one thing that Sherrill sells that isnt.
 
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It also says- It is not possible to make a generic statement about the lifespan of the item of equipment, as it is influenced by various factors, such as (list incomplete) UV- radiation, type and frequency of use, treatment, influence by weather such as snow, enviroments such as salt, sand, battery acid.

cya statement thats all.

Cycles to failure! The harder you ride it the shorter the ride. Plain and simple.


Ive had mine a bit over a year now, and its in great condition. I fully expect another 4 or even 5 out of it,

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Since noone else mentioned it.

How does comfort fit into the factor?

It is by far, THE MOST comfortable saddle Ive ever climbed in. If Im more comfortable, Im more efficient, if Im more efficient, Im more productive, if Im more productive, I can afford some higher priced tools that make my job (life) easier.
 
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Since noone else mentioned it.

How does comfort fit into the factor?

It is by far, THE MOST comfortable saddle Ive ever climbed in. If Im more comfortable, Im more efficient, if Im more efficient, Im more productive, if Im more productive, I can afford some higher priced tools that make my job (life) easier.

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treehopper, those are very important points about fit, comfort, ergonomics, and improved productivity. Those points are critical and should not be overlooked.


....however, when asked by a climber who is working for wages, I find it very hard to recommend one of the new hybrid saddles.

The reality is that the folks who frequent the trade shows, participate in TCC, become an 'arborist', and who are willing to make the substantial investment required to buy one of the higher priced saddles, is, without doubt, an extremely small part of our industry.
The Mark Chisholms, Bernt Strassers, etc. are a minority.

For the most part, our industry is powered by the guy who can barely afford gas in their car/truck or health care, let alone buy one of these saddles.

I would like to see more of what I think Buckingham has attempted, ie: building a sturdy saddle which incorporates the better functions but also can be used for years and years.

I understand that without innovation, we as an industry cannot 'raise the bar' on the tools and equipment used. However I think it is high time that manufacturers took the hint and worked to bring these innovations to the common worker.
The Davey Tree worker, the 'low ball bidder', the small tree company truly represent the largest market share IMO.
 
Good points Frans!!

Hey I fit the demographics you describe. I am a small 1-2 man show, and at times, may find it difficult to fuel my trucks and pay health care premiums, along with other expenses.
But I am in this for the long haul, and if Im gonna subject my body to a lifelong career of vigorous and strenuous labor intensive work, I will do whatever it takes to ease that burden on my body, even if it means paying top dollar for the best saddle I can get.

Aside from that- I would love to see some US manufacturers get with the times, and start producing similiar items we can currently only import which we premium price to do so.


Looking back to my days of being a wage earning company man, I could have never afforded such an expense. Not with a wife and daughter and mortgage payment to boot. I do agree that there is a strong market demand for such items at a more reasonable cost.
 
There may be a valid concern about harness durability, but we won't know until the calendar moves along.

Over the years I have done LOTS of gear inspections. There are many pieces of gear that are exactly the same as what I use. In most cases the gear is really beat up from abuse not use. When I see these same climbers later working in the field I can see why our gear looks so much different. There climbing gear gets tossed into the toolbox or back of the pickup UNDER the saws, gas, polesaws and cones. It's no real surprise that the gear is trashed.

At comps I see more climbers who have heavy duty roller duffles for their gear. Not much different than a portable tool kit. If the duffle is in the back of a pickup it is on TOP of the saws and 'sharp things that cut'.

If a climber is in the first group I wouldn't expect a high performance harness to last more than three months. In the latter, I'm with Top, years of service.
 
I use my treemotion everyday and its been a year now and its still
holding up strong. I just bought a treeflex so the motion has had a break recently but its still in good shape and just as comfortable as when I first purchased it

I never got the info sheet you guys are talking about but I did get my saddle when the first batch came out so it maybe addressing issues that have come up prior to its release after its been tested on the field for about a year
 
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